Counter with zero-setting device



March 28, 1 967 5 uT E|s R 3,311,299

COUNTER WITH ZERO-SETTING DEVICE Filed May 21, 1965 f7 )5 ATTORNEYUnited States Patent many Filed May 21, 1965, Ser. No. 457,869 13Claims. ((Il. 235-144) The present invention relates to counters ingeneral, and more particularly to a counter which is provided with anovel zero-setting or resetting device.

In many conventional counters, the drums are rotated by pinions whichform part of the drive mechanism and insure that the drums rotate withand are relative to each other in sequence, at intervals and at a speeddetermined by the drive mechanism. Such counters are further providedwith means for disengaging the drive mechanism from the drums and with aresetting or zero-setting device which can rotate the drums to apredetermined angular position subsequent to disengagement of the drivemechanism. In other words, when the user wishes to reset the drums, hemust disengage the drive mechanism and he must thereupon effect suchrotary movement of each drum as is necessary to return the drums to zeroor starting positions. As a rule, the force necessary for actuallyresetting the drums exceeds, often several times, the force which isnecessary to disengage the drive mechanism. The resetting mechanism cancomprise cams and followers which are subjected to considerable wear,especially if the parts of the resetting mechanism consist of plastic orsoft metal. Also, the force necessary to operate the resetting mechanismdepends on the number of drums, i.e., if the counter comprises a largenumber of drums which must be reset at frequent intervals, the resettingoperation will be tiresome ,to the person in charge. If the resettingopera tion is carried out by an electromagnet, this magnet must be verystrong and consumes considerable energy. In fact, the resetting magnetmust be much stronger than the magnet which operates the drive mechanismof an electromagnetic counter. In many types of such counters, theresetting magnet occupies a substantial part of the interior of thehousing so that the number of drums must be limited if the counter is toform a compact unit.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention toprovide a counter whose resetting or zerosetting device is constructedand assembled in such a Way that it adds little, if anything, to thebulkiness of the instrument and wherein the resetting operation can becarried out by exertion of a negligible force or in a fully automaticway.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counter wherein thedrums are mounted, configurated and assembled in such a way that theyautomatically return into or close to zero positions as soon as they aredisconnected from the drive mechanism. g

A further object of the invention is to provide a coun ter wherein theforce necessary to reset the drums is the same regardless of the numberof drums and wherein such force is or can be smaller than the forcenecessary to operate the drive mechanism.

An additional object of the instant invention is to provide a counterwherein the resetting device occupies little room, wherein theresettingof drums causes negligible wear on thedrums and on other component partsof the instrument, and wherein the resetting operation can be carriedout very rapidly and with utmost accuracy.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a resetting orzero-setting device of the above outlined characteristics which can beinstalled in many types of present- 1y known counters and which can beproduced and assembled at a low cost.

3,311,299 Patented Mar. 28, 1967 Briefly stated, one feature of myinvention resides in the provision of a counter which comprises one ormore counter drums or similar elements rotatable about a commonsubstantially horizontal axis and each having a center of gravity whichis distant from such common axis. The counter further comprises drivemeans normally engaging with and arranged to rotate the elements atintervals or continuously, depending on the intended use of the counter,and manually operated or automatic means for disengaging the drive meansfrom the rotary elements. If the drive means is disengaged, the elementswill automatically rotate toward a position in which their centers ofgravity are located at a level below the axis around which the elementsrotate. Such position may correspond to or at least approximates thezero or starting position of the respective element.

In order to positively arrest the elements in accurately selected zeropositions, the counter may comprise one or more magnets which arepositioned at a level below the aforementioned axis and attract weightsof magnetizable material which are embedded in, integral with, orotherwise secured to the elements and which are placed in or close tothe centers of gravity of the respective elements.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved zero-setting or resetting device itself, however, both as toits construction and its mode of operation, together with additionalfeatures and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal ofthe following detailed description of a specific embodiment withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of a counter which isprovided with a zero-setting or resetting device embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section as seen in the direction ofarrows from the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a similar fragmentary sectional view but showing one of thecounter drums in an intermediate position during movement to zeroposition;

FIG. 4 is another fragmentary sectional view showing one of the counterdrums in zero position; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the counter with each of its drumsin zero position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a resettable direct-readingcounter which comprises a housing 1 including a front panel 2 having awindow 3 which allows for observation of rotary elements 11, 11a, 11bhere shown as counter drums of ascending order. Each of these drums isfreely rotatable on a horizontal shaft 12 which is mounted in thehousing 1, and each drum is rigid with a driven gear (11, 11a, 11b)normally meshing with one of a series of coaxial driver pinions 13 (onlyone shown in FIG. 2). The shaft 14 of the pinion 13 is parallel with theshaft 12 and is movable toward and away from the drums 11-1112. Apushbutton 4 or an analogous actuating or shifting device serves to movethe shaft 14 from the operative position of FIG. 2 to the idle positionof FIG. 3 in which the pinion 13 is disengaged from the gear 11'. Theshaft 14 then bears against a fixed stop 17 which prevents rotation ofthe pinion 13 so as to make sure that the teeth of gear 11' and pinion13 will mesh again when the shaft 14 is allowed or caused to return tothe operative position of FIG. 2. The pinion 13 is mounted behind thedrums 11-1117 so that it cannot be seen through the window 3.

The drums 11-1112 preferably consist of lightweight synthetic plasticmaterial and each thereof carries a Weight 15 which is eccentric to thecommon axis of the drums so that, and referring to the drum 11 shown inFIG. 2, this drum tends to rotate in a clockwise direction (see thearrow 5 in FIG. 3) when the gears 1111b 3 are disengaged fromtherespective sprockets. As a rule, the weights 15 will be mounted close tothe peripheries of the drums to make sure that the drums will be causedto rotate without delay as soon as the gears 11'-11b are disengaged fromthe respective pinions. In other words, the center of gravity of eachcounter drum should be as distant as possible from the axis of the shaft12.

When the knob 4 is depressed to disengage the drums from the drivemechanism (see FIG. 3), the weight 15 will cause the drum 11 to rotatein a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow 5, and will tend tomove toward and beyond the position of FIG. 3 in which the weight 15 islocated directly below the shaft 12. This is due to the fact that theinertia of the weight 15 will carry the drum 11 beyond such angularposition in which the Weight15 is located nearest to the bottom panel 6of the housing. In the absence of any means for preventing oscillationof the drum 11, the weight 15 would swing back and forth with agradually decreasing amplitude and would finally come to rest in theposition shown in FIG. 3. Thus, and if the zero digit on the peripheryof the drum were provided in such position that it would be locateddirectly behind the window 3, as soon as the drum 11 reaches theposition of FIG. 3, the eccentric weight 15 would constitute the solezero-setting or resetting means for this drum. Of course, the drum 11would assume such position with a certain delay whose direction wouldequal the time required for movement of the weight 15 from the positionof FIG. 2 to that of FIG. 3 plus the time required for oscillation ofthe drum 11. The duration of such oscillation can be reduced by mountingthe drums 11-111) in such a way that some friction will exist betweentheir hubs 11h and the periphery of the shaft 12.

In order to insure that the time necessary for resetting the counterdrums 1111b may be reduced to a minimum and to further insure that eachdrum is actually held in zero position, there is provided a one-piece orcomposite magnet 16 which is mounted on one or more brackets 7 fixed tothe bottom panel 6 and is closely adjacent to the peripheries of thedrums. This magnet 16 may be a permanent magnet or an electromagnet, andits length preferably equals the combined length of the unit consistingof drums 11-1112. The weights 15 consist of iron or other magnetizablemetallic material and are attracted by the magnet 16 so that each drumis arrested in a fully automatic way as soon as the corresponding weightreaches the angular position shown in FIG. 4. It is preferred to installthe magnet 16 in such position that it arrests the drums at a time whenthe weights 15 have moved beyond their dead-center positions shown inFIG. 3. For example, the magnet 16 may be installed in such a way thatthe weights 15 will be attracted and held in a zone extending betweentwo radii of the drums 11-111) respectively making an angle of degreesand 45 degrees with a vertical symmetry plane 88 passing through theaxis of the shaft 12. In FIG. 4, the weight 15 is held in an angularposition in which a line connecting its center with the axis of theshaft 12. makes an angle of approximately 20-25 degrees with thesymmetry plane 88 which halves the drums 1111b. The zero digits of thedrums 11-11!) are then located directly behind and can be seen throughthe window 3, see FIG. 5.

The weights 15 may be permanently embedded in the plastic material ofthe drums 1111b, or each such weight may be removably accommodated in acomplementary recess, bore or cavity of the respective drum. When thepushbutton 4 is released or shifted so as to return to the positionshown in FIG. 2, the pinions 13 return into mesh with the gears 1111band the counter is ready for use.

It is also clear that each drum may consist entirely of magnetizablematerial and that its material may be distributed in such a Way that thecenter of gravity is distant from the axis of the shaft 12.

Alternately, the lightweight material of each drum may weight 15 can beattached to the respective drum at a 7 maximum distance from the shaft12.

The angular distance between the weight 15 and the zero digits of therespective drums is selected in such a way that the zero digits willassume the positions shown in FIG. 5 when the weights are moved nearestto the magnet 16. If the zero-setting device consists solely of weights15, the distance between the weights and the zero digits of therespective drums is selected in such a way that the zero digits arebehind the window 3 when the weights are located directly below theshaft 12, i.e., in angular positions corresponding to that of the weight15 shown in FIG. 3. It is further obvious that the window 3 need not belocated in a vertical plane, i.e., the zero digits can be observed fromabove, from below or from another direction when the drums are reset totheir original or starting positions. For example, and if the counter isinstalled behind a control panel which is located in an inclined plane99 indicated in FIG. 2, the angular distance between the weights 15 andthe zero digits will be such that the zero digits will be located behindan inclined window when the weights reach positions which correspond tothe position of the weight 15 shown in FIG. 4.

The position of the magnet 16 is so selected that, when the drums 11-11breturn to the positions shown in FIG. 5, the gears 11'11b are ready tomesh with the respective pinions 13 as soon as the pushbutton 4 isreleased to follow the bias of a return spring or is withdrawn back tothe position of FIG. 1. During resetting of the drums 11-11b, thepinions 13 are held against rotation by the stop 17 which may be made ofresilient material and may include one or more leaf springs. This stopacts not unlike a locking device and insures that the pinions 13 willautomatically mesh with the corresponding gears 11'11b whenever thedrums are reset and the operator releases the pushbutton 4. Clearly, thepushbutton 4 may be depressed in a fully automatic way by resorting to atrip or the like, for example, when the counter of my invention ismounted on a reciprocating, revolving, orbiting or otherwise moving partof a vehicle, machine or similar structure wherein the drums must bereset at regular intervals or in predetermined positions of the supportwhich carries the counter.

The position of the magnet 16 and weight 15 could be reversed, i.e., theweight of the drum 11 could constitute a magnet.

A very important advantage of my counter is that the operation of thezero-setting or resetting device is fully automatic and that no energyis required for actual resetting of the counter drums. Thus, all anoperator has to do is to apply a force which is sufficient to disengagethe pinions 13 from the gears 11'11b in order to place the counter incondition for resetting of the drums. The actual resetting takes placeautomatically, i.e., without necessitating the exertion of a force onthe part of the operator because the zero-setting operation is performedunder the influence of the magnet 16 and/or under the influence ofgravity. In many conventional counters, the force which the operatormust exert in order to return each of a series of counter drums to zeroposition exceeds many times the force which is necessary to disengagethe drums from the driving mechanism. If the invention is embodied in anelectromechanical counter, the force necessary to initiate thezero-setting operation is much smaller than the force necessary todisengage the counter drums and/or the force necessary to rotate thedrums when the counter is in actual use. If the drums are rotated by oneor more electromagnets, the magnet 16 is preferably (but notnecessarily) replaced by a single electromagnet or by a battery ofelectromagnets. Also, the pushbutton 4 may be operated by anelectromagnet or by hand. If the pushbutton 4 is depressed by hand, theoperator must perform a single operation, i.e., to depress thepushbutton and to hold it in depressed position until the zero digits ofthe drums return to the positions shown in FIG. 5. Since the returnmovement of drums to zero position is not effected in response tomanipulation of levers, knobs, cranks or similar movable parts, themechanism of the counter may be accommodated in a relatively small andcompact housing and its elements can be made of lightweight and lessexpensive material because they need not undergo any wear during theresetting operation. The wear on the hubs 11h of the drums 11-11b duringrotation with reference to the shaft 12 is negligible.

At this time, I contemplate using the improved zerosetting device incounters wherein the drums rotate in response to electromagneticimpulses. However, it is obvious that the improved zero-setting devicecan be embodied in all such counter mechanisms wherein one or morerotary elements may be disengaged from the driving mechanism to returninto a predetermined angular position. Included among such countermechanisms are mechanical counters, all types of tachometer and socalleddecard counters wherein each drum is rotated by a separate driving unit.It is equally within the scope of my invention to replace the drums11-1lb with rotary elements which are not provided with visuallyobservable digits or characters, i.e., which serve as presser drums oras rotary carriers of coded information which is sensed by electrical orelectronic components.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention-that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of my contribution to the art, and therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a counter, a rotary element rotable about a substantiallyhorizontal axis and having a center of gravity spaced from said axis;support means supporting said rotary element for rotation about saidaxis with such minimal friction between said element and said supportmeans as to enable the gravitational force acting on said element toovercome said friction and turn said element into an angular position inwhich said center of gravity is located at a level below said axis;drive means for rotating said element about said axis; means fordisengaging said drive means (from said element so as to allow forrotation of said element into said angular position; and; magnetic meansfor arresting said element in a predetermined position, said magneticmeans comprising a magnetizaible portion of said element and astationary magnet arranged at a level below the xis.

2. In a counter, in combination, a substantially hori zontal shafthaving an axis; a drum having a center of gravity distant from said axisand rotatably mounted on said shaft with such minimal friction as toenable the gravitational force acting on said drum to overcome saidfriction and turn said drum into an angular position in which saidcenter of gravity is located at a level below said axis of said shaft;drive means normally engaging with and adapted to rotate said drum;means for disengaging said drive means from said drum so as to allow forrotation of said drum to said angular position; and magnetic means forarresting said element in a predetermined position, said magnetic meanscomprising a magnetizaible portion or said element and a stationarymagnet arranged at a level below said axis.

3. In a counter, a rotary element rotable about a substantiallyhorizontal axis, the material of said element being distributed in sucha way that its center of gravity is spaced from said axis; supportmeanssuipporting said rotary element for rotation about said axis withsuch minianal friction between said element and said support means as toenable the gravitational force acting on said element to overcome saidfriction and turn said element into an angular position in which saidcenter of gravity is located at a level below said axis; drive means forrotating said element about said axis; means for disengaging said drivemeans from said element so as toallow for rotation of said element intosaid angular position; and mag netic means for arresting said element ina predetermined position, said magnetic means comprising a magnetizableportion of said element and a station=ary permanent magnet arranged at alevel below said axis and spaced from a vertical plane passing throughsaid axis.

4. In a counter, a rotary element rotatable about a substantiallyhorizontal axis and comprising a first portion consisting of a firstmaterial which is distributed substantially uniformly about said axis,said element further comprising a second portion eccentrically securedto said first portion and consisting of a magnetizable second materialwhich is heavier than said first material so that the center of gravityof said element is distant from said axis; support means supporting saidrotary element for rotation about said axis with such minimal frictionbetween said element and said support means as to enable thegravitational force acting on said element to overcome said friction andturn said element into an angular position in which said center ofgravity is located at a level below said axis; drive means for rotatingsaid element about said axis; means for disen gaging said drive meansfrom said element so as to allow for rotation of said element into saidangular position; and a permanent magnet located at :a level below saidaxis and adjacent to said element so as to attract said second portionin response to rotation of said element under the influence ofgravitational force and to arrest said element in a predeterminedangular position.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein said magnet is locatedat one side of a vertical plane passing through said axis.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein said magnet 'is locatedat one side of a vertical plane passing through said axis and isarranged to arrest said element in such angular position that saidcenter of gravity is located within an area bounded by two radiiextending from said axis and respectively making angles of 5 and 45degrees with said vertical plane.

7. A structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein said element is acounter drum and wherein said predetermined position corresponds to thezero position of said drum.

8. In a counter, a plurality of drums rotatable about a commonsubstantially horizontal axis and each having a center of gravity spacedfrom said axis; support means supporting said plurality of drums forrotation about said axis with such minimal friction as to enable thegravitational force acting on said drums to overcome said friction andturn the respective drums into an angular position in which therespective center of gravity is located at a level below said axis;drive means for rotating said drums about said axis; means fordisengaging said drive means from said drums so as to allow for rotationof each drum into said angular position; and magnetic means forarresting each of said driuns in a predetermined position, said magneticmeans comprising a magnetiza-ble portion of each of said drums and atleast one stationary permanent magnet arranged at a level below saidaxis.

9. In a counter, drum means freely rotatable about a substantiallyhorizontal axis and having a center of gravity which is distant fromsaid axis; support means supporting said drum means for rotation aboutsaid axis with such minimal friction as to enable the gravitationalforce acting on said drum means to overcome such friction and turn saiddrum means into an angular position in which said center of gravity islocated at a level below said axis; a drive for rotating said drummeans; a device for disengaging said drive from said drum means so as toallow for rotation of said drum means toward said angular position; andmeans for arresting said drum means in a predetermined angular position,one of said means comprising a stationary permanent magnet and the otherof said means comprising a portion consisting of m agnet'izable materialwhich is adjacent to and attracted by said magnet in said predeterminedangular position of said drum means, said arresting means being locatedat a level below said axis.

10. In a counter, drum means 'freely rotatable about a substantiallyhorizontal axis and having a center of gravity which is distant fromsaid axis; support means supper-ting said drum means for rotation aboutsaid axis with such minimal friction as to enable the gravitationalforce acting on said drum means to overcome such friction and turn saiddrum means into an angular position in which said center of gravity islocated at a level below said axis; a drive for rotating said drummeans; a device for disengaging said drive from said drum means so as toallow for rotation of said drum means toward said angular position; andmeans for arresting said drum means in a predetermined angular position,one of said means comprising a stationary permanent magnet and the otherof said means comprising a portion consisting of magnetizable materialwhich is adjacent to and attracted by said magnet in said predeterminedangular position of said drum means, said magnet being located at a:level below said axis close to the periphery of said drum means and ina plane passing through said axis and which forms with a vertical planesimilarly passing through said axis an angle of between 5 and 45degrees.

11. A structure as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a panelhaving a window adjacent to the periphery of said drum means, said drummeans having a plurality of digits applied to said periphery thereofincluding a zero digit which is located behind and is observable throughsaid window when said ma-gnetizab'le portion is adjacent to said magnet.

12. A structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein said drum meanscomprises a first gear ooaxially afiixed thereto and said drivecomprises a second gear movable with and out of mesh with said firstgear.

13. A structure as set forth in claim 12, further comprising means forpreventing rotation of said second gear when said second gear is out ofmesh with said first gear.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,870,000 8/1932Cunningham et al. 235-91 2,312,342 3/1943 Lang 235-91 2,588,038 3/1952Pagenhardt 235-91 2,844,316 7/1958 Liebknecht 235-91 3,053,441 9/1962Vroom 235-144 3,064,893 11/1962 Grinstead 235-144 3,116,875 1/1964Wolfenden et al 235-91 3,122,315 3/1964 Krefsdzio 235-144 3,159,75912/1964 Conrad et a1. 235-91 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

LEO SMILOW, Examiner. C. G. COVELL, J. G. MURRAY, Assistant Examiners.

1. IN A COUNTER, A ROTARY ELEMENT ROTATABLE ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLYHORIZONTAL AXIS AND HAVING A CENTER OF GRAVITY SPACED FROM SAID AXIS;SUPPORT MEANS SUPPORTING SAID ROTARY ELEMENT FOR ROTATION ABOUT SAIDAXIS WITH SUCH MINIMAL FRICTION BETWEEN SAID ELEMENT AND SAID SUPPORTMEANS AS TO ENABLE THE GRAVITATIONAL FORCE ACTING ON SAID ELEMENT TOOVERCOME SAID FRICTION AND TURN SAID ELEMENT INTO AN ANGULAR POSITION INWHICH SAID CENTER OF GRAVITY IS LOCATED AT A LEVEL BELOW SAID AXIS;DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID ELEMENT ABOUT SAID AXIS; MEANSFORDISENGAGING SAID DRIVE MEANS FROM SAID ELEMENT SO AS TO ALLOW FORROTATION OF SAID ELEMENT INTO SAID ANGULAR POSITION: AND MAGNETIC MEANSFOR ARRESTING SAID ELEMENT IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION, SAID MAGNETICMEANS COMPRISING A MAGNETIZABLE PORTION OF SAID ELEMENT AND A STATIONARYMAGNET ARRANGED AT A LEVEL BELOW THE AXIS.